Dental handpiece hygienic pharmaceutical sterilization lubricant

Abstract

About 1/2 cc of a sterile composition (5) dropped into the rotor drive air feed line (11) of a dental handpiece (10) while holding the handpiece upside down protects and lubricates the handpiece bearings and turbine during the subsequent auto-clave sterilization process. An additional dosage inserted into the bur hole after the auto-clave process further lubricates the handpiece and inhibits rust from forming on the handpiece bearings and turbine during use. The pre-sterilization dosage and post-sterilization dosage of measured amounts may be separately packaged in disposable capsules (20, 30). The composition (5) is made by heat mixing until sterile about 10% by volume of a sterile solution of Power-Up™ NNL-690, which is a liquid hydrocarbon boundary lubricant; and corrosion inhibitor, with 90% by volume of pharmaceutical grade mineral oil.

I claim: 
     
       1. The process of sterilizing a dental handpiece comprising the steps of: (a) providing a rotor supported in a bearing and having a bur hole adapted to receive and hold a bur,   (b) lubricating the rotor and bearing of the handpiece with a predetermined amount of a composition comprising a solution of about 90% by volume of a liquid hydrocarbon and about 10% by volume of a boundary lubricant and corrosion inhibitor, and   (c) inserting the handpiece into a sealed bag and subjecting the bag to an auto-clave cycle sufficient to sterilize the handpiece.   
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1 wherein the predetermined amount is about 1/2 cc. 
     
     
       3. The process of claim 1 wherein the lubricating step further comprises the step of inserting the composition into a rotor drive air feed line while holding the handpiece vertically upside down.   
     
     
       4. The process of claim 1 wherein the composition of the lubricating step further comprises: the boundary lubricant and corrosion inhibitor is NNL-690, and   the liquid hydrocarbon includes a pharmaceutical grade mineral oil.   
     
     
       5. The process of claim 4 wherein the composition is sterile. 
     
     
       6. The process of claim 5 further comprising the step of: after completing the auto-clave cycle, inserting a predetermined amount of the composition into the bur hole.   
     
     
       7. The process of claim 4 wherein the composition includes not more than about 10% by volume of NNL-690 and not less than about 90% by volume of the liquid hydrocarbon. 
     
     
       8. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of: after completing the auto-clave cycle, inserting a predetermined amount of the composition into the bur hole.   
     
     
       9. The process of protecting a dental handpiece having a rotor supported in a bearing and a bur hole constructed and arranged to receive and hold a bur comprising the step of: lubricating the rotor and bearing of the handpiece with a predetermined amount of a composition comprising about 10% by volume of NNL-690 and about 90% by volume of a pharmaceutical grade mineral oil.   
     
     
       10. The process of claim 9 wherein the composition comprises not more than about 10% NNL-690 and not less than about 90% mineral oil. 
     
     
       11. The process of claim 10 wherein the predetermined amount is about 2 drops. 
     
     
       12. The process of claim 9 wherein the composition is sterile. 
     
     
       13. The process of claim 9 wherein the lubricating step further comprises the step of inserting the composition into the bur hole. 
     
     
       14. The process of claim 1 wherein the lubricating step further comprises the step of: lubricating with a composition which includes vitamin E as a rust inhibitor.   
     
     
       15. The process of claim 9 wherein the composition further comprises vitamin E as a rust inhibitor. 
     
     
       16. The process of making a dental handpiece lubricant comprising the step of: mixing about 10% by volume of NNL-690 and about 90% by volume of a pharmaceutical grade mineral oil.   
     
     
       17. The process of claim 16 further comprising the step of: heating the mixture until sterile.   
     
     
       18. The process of claim 16 wherein the mixture comprises not more than about 10% by volume of NNL-690 and not less than about 90% by volume of mineral oil. 
     
     
       19. The process of claim 16 wherein the NNL-690 comprises a liquid hydrocarbon boundary lubricant and corrosion inhibitor. 
     
     
       20. A dental handpiece lubricant comprising a mixture of about 10% by volume of NNL-690 and about 90% by volume of a pharmaceutical grade mineral oil.   
     
     
       21. The lubricant of claim 20 wherein the solution is sterile. 
     
     
       22. The lubricant of claim 20 wherein the mixture comprises not more than about 10% by volume of NNL-690 and not less than about 90% by volume of mineral oil. 
     
     
       23. The lubricant of claim 20 wherein the NNL-690 comprises a liquid hydrocarbon boundary and corrosion inhibitor. 
     
     
       24. The product made by the process of claim 16. 
     
     
       25. The product made by the process of claim 17. 
     
     
       26. The product made by the process of claim 18. 
     
     
       27. The product made by the process of claim 19. 
     
     
       28. The process of claim 16 further comprising the step of: mixing vitamin E with the NNL-690 and pharmaceutical grade mineral oil.   
     
     
       29. The lubricant of claim 20 further comprising: vitamin E as a rust inhibitor.   
     
     
       30. The product made by the process of claim 28.